'No to Dictatorship': Why Haitians are protesting US-backed Moïse

Pushback with Aaron Mate

Pushback with Aaron Maté

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4.7 • 594 Ratings

🗓️ 18 February 2021

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate Haitian president Jovenel Moïse has cracked down on a wave of popular protest as he tries to cling to power. While tens of thousands of Haitians have taken to the streets in the face of government repression, the Biden administration is backing Moïse's effort to remain in office for at least another year. Haitian activist and radio host Dahoud Andre discusses the background to Moïse's power grab; the continued US deportations to Haiti; the enduring popularity of Jean-Bertrand Aristide -- twice overthrown in US-backed coups; and how the Biden administration's support for Moïse continues a long legacy of US attacks on Haiti's popular movements and backing of right-wing autocrats. Guest: Dahoud Andre. Radio host and activist with the Committee to Mobilize Against Dictatorship in Haiti.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to pushback. I'm Erin Mate. Haitian President Juvenel-Mauiz is facing a wave of popular protest as he
0:12.8	tries to cling to power. Moise's term was supposed to expire earlier this month, but he says he really
0:19.9	belongs in office for another year.
0:23.2	In response, Haitians have taken to the streets in protest and Moise has cracked down, repressing
0:29.7	demonstrations and rounding up opposition figures as well as a top judge.
0:36.0	We don't have a top judge.
0:49.6	Although Haitians have taken to oppose Moise's power grab, he does have one powerful ally.
0:56.3	In Washington, the Biden administration has backed Moise's claim that he can stay in office for another year,
1:00.2	and even downplayed the scale of the protests against him.
1:08.1	The Biden administration's support for Jovenelle-Mauiz is in line with U.S. policy going back two centuries.
1:14.5	For a long time, the U.S. has stood against popular movements in Haiti and in lockstep with right-wing forces. Well, joining me is Daoud Andre. He is a Haitian radio
1:22.0	host and activist. Daoud Andre, welcome to pushback. Thank you, Aaron. Great you and your audience.
1:31.3	So for people who have not been following what's been happening in Haiti,
1:35.3	it hasn't gotten so much attention.
1:37.3	Can you catch us up on what is behind the protests we're seeing right now?
1:42.3	Well, for some of us, Aaron,
1:46.0	a juvenile Moise never really had a mandate.
1:49.0	Jovenel Moise is a product of fraudulent elections
1:54.0	that happened in...
1:56.0	They were so bad in 2015.
1:58.0	They had to be thrown out.
2:00.0	They were done again in 2015. They had to be thrown out. They were done again in 2016. And to give you an example,
	...

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